Operating out of Avengers Burger, a Marvel-themed burger shop in Scarborough's Lebovic Food Court, Chachu's is a new late-night Pakistani street food concept that you won't want to miss.
Ryerson University engineering graduate Obaid Ullah noticed how Pakistani street food was underrepresented in Scarborough's food scene and decided that sharing his own recipes with the community would be the perfect opportunity to pursue his longtime passion for food, with the hopes of making it a reality.
Ullah aims to bring over the rich food culture he experienced while living in Pakistan, so that others in the GTA can also share those same experiences -- like the joys of taking a bite into a soft and chewy paratha roll, filled with creamy sauces and stuffed with meat seasoned by aromatic savoury spices.
The slogan "Fed by Chachu's,"according to Ullah, is part of Pakistani culture that the Chachu, translated to uncle, is the one in the family who feeds the young ones. He wants to have that same idea come to life in his kitchen, as he aims to introduce new customers to Southern Asian street food and provide for those who already love it.
Ullah sets out to bring his love for comforting Pakistani street food to more people in a grab and go fashion, showcasing dishes like Chicken Tikka Pulao, which is seasoned chicken over rice, accompanied by green peppers, garlic mayonnaise and raita dressing, as well as Tandoori Chicken Paratha Rolls.
At the moment, one of his most desired items is the Chapli Kebab Paratha Roll, which is made with fresh Peshawari chapli kebab drizzled with a mint chutney sauce and wrapped in a paratha bread roll.
Peshawar is the capital of the Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa famous for its meat, so Ullah is influenced to replicate that notoriety by using the same style and flavours of how meat is cooked and marinated there within his menu.
While still balancing his day job, Ullah aims to build a name for his kitchen as a late-night spot for quick, tasty and affordable eats that aren't as commonly found in the GTA. Thus, Chachu's is open until 4 a.m. -- but that's only part of the reason why. As mentioned, Chachu's shares a space with Avengers Burger in the Lebovic Food Court and as a result, you can grab Marvel-themed burgers during the day and overnight, you can pick up paratha rolls and chicken pulao from Chachu's.
Ullah expresses his gratitude towards the owner of Avengers Burger Hassan Nehme who, when noticing Ullah inquiring about spaces to rent in the evening to pursue his passion project, kindly offered up his own kitchen space and storefront without hesitation.
"Hassan from Avengers Burger is a very nice person, he took a chance on me. He allowed us to partner with him and use his space, operating freely to use the kitchen. It's a really big support. It gives us a much easier platform to get on our feet and be able to get our word out there," Ullah explains.
For the month of Ramadan, Chachu's is operating to accommodate. Find month-long specials of $5 paratha rolls and a $20 combo of one chicken over rice, two paratha rolls and two drinks for walk-in diners only.
Chachu's will be open from Wednesday through Sunday from 11 p.m. until 4 a.m. and after Ramadan, hours will return to 9 p.m. until 4 a.m. Be sure to keep an eye on their Instagram for updates and special walk-in deals.
Next time you're looking for a late night snack, get fed by Obaid Ullah, the real Chachu at 41 Lebovic Avenue.
